Across a broad range of industries and occupations, workers rely on technologies to control hazardous energy, informally known as “Lockout, Tagout” or “LoTo”. These technologies keep workers safe by preventing exposure to dangerous chemical, electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic, or thermal energy sources.
HAZARDOUS ENERGY FACTS
- Failing to properly lock out/tag out equipment was the third most frequently cited violation by OSHA in 2024 [1]
- An estimated 120 workers annually are killed by uncontrolled energy discharges [2]
- 50,000 workers annually are injured on the job by exposure to hazardous energy [3]
- On average, it takes a worker 24 days to recover from an accidental exposure to hazardous energy [4]
The National Safety Council’s latest Safety Innovation Challenge aims to highlight innovative technologies that can identify, secure, and communicate hazardous energy risks in the workplace, to drive down rates of injuries and fatalities.
All proposed technologies for this Safety Innovation Challenge focused on controlling hazardous energy must either:
- Detect hazardous energy risks in the workplace: possible pathways include but are not limited to wearable sensors or portable hand-held devices for workers
- Secure an energy source to permit work to be performed safely: possible pathways include but are not limited to the ability to temporarily interrupt or divert the flow of hazardous energy within a piece of equipment through mechanical, physical, magnetic or similar methods
- Communicate “locked out” hazardous energy risks to workers in the immediate vicinity: possible pathways include geofenced notification technologies or audible alerts
- Communicate “locked out” hazardous energy risks or discharges to safety professionals: possible pathways include but are not limited to digital twins and data dashboards
[1] https://www.osha.gov/data/commonstats
[2] https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHAFS3529.pdf
[3] https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHAFS3529.pdf
[4] https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHAFS3529.pdf